Dromore lad out to fire county to glory after debut goal

Gareth Hanna

If the first game is anything to go by, a Dromore lad could be the key for County Down.

Jake Corbett is playing for the junior squad in this week’s Super Cup NI and he has already proved a key cog in midfield.

The 15 year-old was top scorer for his Crusaders side last season as he notched up a stunning total of 37 goals.

And he netted in his opening game at the Super Cup, a 3-1 win over Partick Thistle

While he stressed he doesn’t mind helping out in his own half of the pitch, Jake even tipped himself for a goal just hours before the game.

“I do like to get forward,” he laughed.

“We’ve done a lot of training and preparation and it has all been for this week. It’s all been fantastic. The coaches are great and the facilities we have got to use have been brilliant.

“I came up on Saturday with my family and then we all had the opening ceremony on Sunday. It was great. It was fantastic just to be there along with all the other players and stand with the professional teams.”

Last season, Banbridge lad Jack Chambers won the Bertie Peacock Trophy for the top performing county player. He has since earned a transfer to West Brom.

And the prospect of a big move, Corbett says, is something he has considered.

“It’s always there in the back of your mind, thinking that a move could be a possibility,” he said.

“I just want to put in some good performances and as a team, all we have said is that we want to take it one match at a time.”

Corbett has recently made his debut in a Northern Ireland shirt while he has joined Linfield this summer, following in the footsteps of his team’s manager from Crusaders.

Today (Tuesday) Corbett’s junior side face Club NI at the Coleraine Showgrounds (kick-off 3.30pm) and finish their group campaign against Southampton at the Riada Stadium in Ballymoney on Wednesday at 5pm.

Meanwhile, Banbridge based defender Neil Dillon is in the premier squad.